Pediatric exposure incidents reported to the National Pesticide Information Center

One of the primary objectives of the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) is to serve as a recognized place for the public and health professionals to report pesticide incidents. In 2009, NPIC received 24,573 total inquiries, of which 3,875 were classified as an exposure incident. Stratifying all incidents by age indicated that 459 reports involved children between the ages of 1 and 7. The vast majority of these incidents involved mothballs containing naphthalene (36.6%). Pyrethroid incidents came in second with 10.7% and paradichlorobenzene, the other active ingredient found in moth balls at 9.3%. This was followed by 7% boric acid and 5% capsaicin. Rodenticide exposures accounted for only 3% of reported incidents. Most reported exposures involving children occurred in the home or yard (97%). The route of exposure was categorized for 459 reports, including 54% ingestion, 14% dermal, 2% inhalation, and 30% many/unknown. In addition to 2009, data from the past five years were examined for longitudinal trends to determine if changes among pediatric exposures to different classes of pesticides could be observed. It is hoped that this analysis can enhance pesticide education materials designed for residential users, including the importance of proper use, storage and disposal of focused pesticide groups to reduce child exposures. It also provides an opportunity for health educators to communicate common pesticide exposure scenarios to their clients and recognize these emerging environmental health issues.